Unable to setup Android auto on Phone (3a) - help

mikk_viidul · 2025-03-28T17:29:29+00:00

I received my Nothing Phone 3a Pro today and I'm really pleased with it but for some odd reason I cannot get the Android auto to work. I've tried restarting, switching cables, removing updates and updating again etc. All the common fixes you can find on the internet. I've tried messing about with the usb configurations but nothing (pun intended) seems to work. I've attached a photo of the issue that shows up on the cars infotainment screen. As seen on the photo when connected to the car it says that the device is called VOLCANO-QRD something something something, however when I connected the BT it shows up as Nothing Phone (3a) Pro. My car only has wired android auto and it works with a pixel 7 that is on android 15 as well. Can somebody help me? I've been racking my brain for hours at this point [upl-image-preview uuid=dcc462ba-40e8-402d-8cb5-4878ca9f7a0f url=https://s3-nothing-prod.s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/2025-03-28/1743182957-832023-img-20250328-192325734.jpg alt={TEXT?}]

Sneh

having the same issue on 3A pro, Nothing OS 3.2 as of Oct 2025

steveeeg

Same problem on recent purchases 3a trying to connect to Skoda fabia 2023 model , other phone wife’s CMF pro 2 works perfectly!

Will have to return phone if not fixed and probably get a CMF pro 2 which is a shame as really like the 3a , but need android auto to work..

Regards Steve

MuhammadTiaAlfarizi

Nothing phone 3 tidak bisa connect ke android auto mobil honda city 2023. Bisa tolong saya?

hmeroo

Same problem Skoda Octavia IV 2022 infotainment system.

Cannot use nothing phones Android auto.

☹️☹️☹️☹️

It is a huge downside and I hope they will fix this with os4

steveeeg

hmeroo yep real shame as love the phone, fingers crossed on os 4 upgrade

Strangely my wife’s CMF pro 2 running nothing os 3.5 connect fine to android auto…

reneklacan

I had the same issue with Nothing Phone 3, I collected all USB-A to USB-C cables I had at home and tried them all one by one and 1 out of 6 ended up working so I'd just recommend you to keep trying with different cables.

PeterJakobsen

Have any of you tried the Nothing OS 4 beta? The release should be coming out this month, if that helps that would be great.
I have a Nothing Phone (3) with the same problem on my USB-2 connected Skoda Scala 2019

PeterJakobsen

PeterJakobsen yeah os 4 didn’t help

steveeeg

I will try again once I have nothing 4 installed but I'm waiting for non beta version

Tried again as there has been an update recently on android auto, same problem….

Not holding out much hope given how long issue has been known by nothing

Regards Steve

MuthukumarV_3td6K3Lco3

Same problem with 3A and Renault Triber. All other phones like pixel series and samsung S series and A series are working on the car. Tried all the steps, but no solution yet!

steveeeg

PeterJakobsen that’s a shame can’t believe that this issue has been outstanding for so long

PeterJakobsen

I bought a PAUNEZUEL Android Car Wireless Adapter. Where you plug in the adapter, and connect to it via phone bluetooth. This solved it, i can for the first time connect. I would have preferred the cabled connection but it works pretty well with this.
So this was a fix for my Skoda Scala and Nothing Phone (3) with nothing os 4
I bought from Amazon.de:
https://amzn.eu/d/2P4ga3Z

Sneh

I’ve been battling a frustrating wired Android Auto compatibility issue for months. Despite exhaustive troubleshooting, OS 4.0 update, and detailed logs shared with support (Ticket #1375848), the problem remains: My Skoda infotainment misidentifies the phone as “Volcano QRD SN:26D45CA7” (Qualcomm’s internal reference design codename), causing connection loops, handshake failures, or “connect compatible device” prompts. It’s a safety concern for nav/music during drives, and wireless isn’t ideal for me.

From my logs, it’s a USB descriptor leak in the kernel gadget driver, the phone exposes QRD strings instead of “Nothing Phone (3a) Pro” during enumeration, leading to rejection.

What I’ve Tried (Chronological Summary):

Basics: Latest Nothing OS 4, high-quality USB-C cables/adapters (original Nothing and other cables), all car USB ports.
Resets & Configs: Cleared AA cache/data, forgot cars in Connected devices, factory reset infotainment, enabled USB debugging, set Default USB config to MTP/File Transfer.
App/Background Tweaks: Allowed AA unrestricted battery/background, force-stopped/reinstalled, disabled USB audio routing.
Advanced: ADB logs/dumpsys during failures (attached excerpts), USB reset commands (svc usb reset), property overrides (setprop sys.usb.product.name—failed due to read-only props).
Post-OS 4.0: Fresh bug report (Nov 29) shows same DISCONNECT after ACCESSORY=START in dumpsys usb.

Key Findings from Logs:

Dumpsys USB: Repeated CONNECT → CONFIGURED → SENDSTRING (manufacturer=“Android”, model=“Android Auto”) → DISCONNECT ~10ms after START—rejection due to unrecognized descriptor.
Input Dumpsys: “volcano-qrd-wsa883x-snd-card Headset Jack” leaks in device list (audio codec tied to USB).
ADB Getprop: No sys.usb.manufacturer/product.name props (kernel-locked); grep usb shows dwc3 controller but no overrides.
Linux MTP (Arch): Device shows “VOLCANO-QRD_SN:26D45CA7” despite file access working—proves cross-host leak.

PiotrRubka

Hi, i’m using Nothing Phone 3a Pro - and i cannot use wired Android Auto. When plugging in - its just charging - android auto not starting. In settings phone doesnt recognize connection with car. When i use Blow wireless adapter - it works Perfect.

AmZu12

Hey, i also have a nothing phone 3a pro which i bought last week. for some reason, my VW passat B8 2017 (head unit is delphi vendor, OEM), the android auto in the phone/headunit doesnt even detect the phone ( no volcano like some others are saying). this is on latest 3a pro update, and latest headunit update. my previous samsungs, xiaomi’s, and apples all work on my car, only nothing’s doesnt. this is a deal breaker in my opinion and i will not be purchasing another nothing product if they cant get this right…

BasilAl-attas

mikk_viidul yes mine too, the android auto won’t connect in my car , only Bluetooth… tho the car connects Android auto with other phones, why customer support isn’t responding or fixing the issue after all this time ?

Sneh

Ethan Walker My car is Skoda Kushaq 2022, i am willing to generate logs as necessary. The Skoda infotainment shows “Volcano QRD SN:26D45CA7” (Qualcomm QRD codename leak) instead of the device name, causing handshake loops/failures.
Tried: Updates, AA app downgrade, certified cables/adapters, resets (cache/data/cars/infotainment), USB debugging/MTP toggles, ADB commands (props read-only).

AndyLawrence

Same issue here, I have resurected my Phone (1) to use in the car while I wait for this to be fixed 🙁

OliverHubert

Did anyone manage to get an answer or the thing working with cable only? I went to the dealership of Skoda and they asked me to pay 200 euros to roll an update which is not available for the car, which supposedly fixes the issue…..

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